New Mexico
Turtle possession, collection, and commercial regulations for New Mexico, as researched by Nauti-Lass Ponds & Critters.
New Mexico Wildlife AgencyLaws listed here were current as of January 1, 2015. Laws change frequently — always verify with your state's wildlife agency before purchasing or keeping turtles. This is not legal advice.
Native Turtle Species
- Desert Box Turtle
- Desert Tortoise
- Ornate Box Turtle
- Painted Turtle
Law Summary
SUMMARY OF NEW MEXICO TURTLE LAWS
POSSESSION
1. It is unlawful to take or possess the threatened Western River Cooter, Pseudemys gorzugi.
2. It is legal to import virtually any species with a Class II importation permit.
3. Any person in possession of the annual bag limit or more than the annual bag limit of wild-caught reptiles shall be deemed to possess these individuals for commercial purposes and be required to have a commercial collecting permit.
4. Wild caught turtles for personal use may not be sold.
TAKING FROM THE WILD
1. New Mexico residents are not required to have a hunting or fishing license to collect non-protected species for non-commercial purposes. Non-residents are required to have both a non-resident hunting license and a commercial collecting permit for collecting any species.
2. It shall be unlawful to exceed the annual bag limit of any species of amphibian or reptile. Annual bag limits for native turtles are: Snapping Turtles Chelydra serpentina 20; Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta 5; Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata 10; Pond Slider Trachemys scripta 20 (Pecos river and its tributaries – unlimited elsewhere); Yellow Mud Turtle Kinosternon flavescens 20; Sonoran Mud Turtle Kinosternon sonoriense 5; Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica 5; Spiny Softshell Apalone spiniferus 10. Any turtle not listed is unlawful to take.
3. Turtles may be taken by hand, seines, cast nets, and dip nets.
4. It is unlawful to take all free-ranging, native reptile species that are Federal or State listed as threatened or endangered. The only state species is the Western River Cooter, Pseudemys gorzugi.
COMMERCIAL
1. It is unlawful for any person to take free-ranging, native reptiles in New Mexico for commercial purposes without purchasing and having in possession a valid commercial collecting permit. In addition, nonresidents must purchase and also have in their possession a nonresident hunting license.
2. A commercial collecting permit entitles the holder to collect, sell, barter or profit from wild caught reptiles.
3. Any person in possession of the annual bag limit or more than the annual bag limit of wild-caught reptiles shall be deemed to possess these individuals for commercial purposes. In addition, any person in possession of more than 50 individuals with unlimited take, shall be deemed to possess these individuals for commercial purposes.